Valve operating mechanism for controlling the steam events in steam engines



March 10, 1953 g H. G. MUELLER VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLINGTHE STEAM EVENTS IN STEAM ENGINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 12, 1948Zr/////////////& 0

r L J H4 r.- ll- March 10, 1953 H. G. MUELLER VALVE OPERATING MECHANISMFOR CONTROLLING THE STEAM EVENTS IN STEAM ENGINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 12. 1948 MiiM e March 10, 1953 H. G. MUELLER VALVE OPERATINGMECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE STEAM EVENTS IN STEAM ENGINES 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 12, 1948 Patented Mar. 10, 1953 VALVE OPERATINGMECHANISM FOR CON- TROLLING THE STEAM EVENTS IN STEAM ENGINES Herman G.Mueller, Erie, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Skinner Engine00., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original applicationFebruary 21, 1947, Serial No. 730,114. Divided and this application May12, 1948, Serial No. 28,612

I 3 Claims.

1 This invention relates generally to novel valve operating mechanismfor a multi-cylinder steam engine and it relates more particularly to avalve operating mechanism for steeple-compound, poppet valve, reversingstationary and marine engines. This application is a division of myapplication Serial Number 730,114, filed February 21, 1947, whichmatured as Patent No. 2,572,652,

issued October 23, 1951.

Most of the compound, triple and quadruple expansion marine steamengines in service utilize slide valves with a few of the more modernsteam engines having poppet valves. The valve operating mechanism inpresent steam engine practice is entirely unsatisfactory and ineflicientand it is not adaptable for conversion of old type valve operatingmechanism to valve operating mechanism for modern steam enginesutilizing the existing conventional Stephenson linkage valve gear andthe existing reversing jack and controls.

7 It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide a novel valveoperating mechanism for a steam engine and it is more particularly anobject of my invention to provide a valve operating mechanism for asteeple-compound, steam engine which is simple in construction,economical in cost, economical in manufacture and efficient inoperation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel poppet valvemechanism for a steam engine with a variable cut-off and other steamevents, desirable for maximum economy and with proper maneuverability.

Another object of my invention is to provide a compound multi-cylindersteam engine valve operating mechanism which may be adapted for use withany number of cranks and in which a complete steam cycle is carriedthrough on each crank.

Another object of my invention i to provide novel valve operatingmechanism for multisteeple compound cylinders with piston and cylinderheads and poppet valves and inlet and exhaust manifolds which may beadapted to and mounted on conventional open frames or columns now inuse, and which will utilize the existing cranks, connecting rods, crossheads, bedplate with main bearings and shafting and the conventional.eccentric .valve gearing, reversing .inder head 10 between the high andlow pressure 7 2 mechanisms, etc. already assembled and in use onexisting engines.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel multi-steeplecompound steam cylinders with a poppet valve gear which can be actuatedfrom existing conventional eccentrics and reversing mechanisms.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partly in vertical section of my novelvalve actuating mechanism controlling and operating the low pressurevalve in a cylinder head between a high and low pressure cylinder of asteeple compound steam engine;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the cylinder head I0in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view with fragments there-of broken awayshowing my novel valve operating mechanism controlling the admissionvalve and an exhaust valve for exhausting steam from the low pressurecylinder;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing my novelvalve operatin mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on the line llll of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the packing box engaging the pistonrod disposed between the high pressure cylinder and the low pressurecylinder of my novel steam engine.

For the purposes of illustration, I have shown my novel steam cylinders,cylinder heads, and valve operating mechanisms mounted on conventionalmarine triple expansion engine columns, although it will be evident thatmy novel cylinders, cylinder heads, manifolds, and valve operatingmechanisms may be mounted on any type of conventional frame or columnwith any number of cranks. I

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive show a lowpressure cylinder 4 mounted on columns 2, a high pressure cylinder 5being disposed in vertical alignment above the low' pressure cylinder 4.The high and low pressure cylinders 5 and 4, respectively, have a pistonrod l2 extending axially thereof and through a cylcylinders and 4. Thepiston rod I2 has a piston I3 fixed thereon movable in the high pressurecylinder 5 and it also has a piston I5 fixed thereon movable in the lowpressure cylinder 4. The complete description of the cylinders, pistons,and other elements and parts of the steam engine in which my valveoperating mechanism is shown is fully set forth and described in myPatent No. 2,572,652, issued October 23, 1951.

An open passage 44 in the cylinder head It leads directly to the upperend of the low pressure cylinder 4 from the high pressure cylinder 5.Steam passes freely from the high pressure cylinder 5 to the top of thelow pressure cylinder 4 and vice versa. A high pressure steam line 45,connected with a manifold, is secured to the top surface of the cylinderhead It diametrically opposite to the steam line 43 and connects with asteam chamber 45, the steam thereby passing from the chamber 45 upon theopening of the poppet valve 41 into the port 41a, which is open to thehigh pressure cylinder 5. Exhaust from the high pressure cylinder 5 iscontinued after the pistons I3 and I5 in the high pressure and lowpressure cylinders 5 and 4, respectively, recede from the top of theirstroke by opening poppet valve 43 which connects the port chamber 41a,open to the high pressure cylinder 5, with a steam passage 59 leading tothe upper end of low pressure cylinder 4. Poppet valve 52 is provided inthe cylinder head I0 to exhaust steam on the upstroke of the lowpressure cylinder 4 to a steam chamber 53 which passes the exhaust steamoutwardly through passage 54 and exhaust line 55 to a condenser (notshown).

In controlling the steam events in a steam engine, I may utilizeexisting conventional eccentrics on a conventional vertical marinetriple expansion engine as I have shown in the drawings; however, mynovel valve actuating mechanism may be operated by any other suitablemeans. In Fig. 1, I show conventional links 52 operated by eccentricsand eccentric rods (not shown) connected to valve rod 53, pivoted rockerarm I34, and adjustable link rod 55. The eccentric motion may be carriedby any suitable linkage system connected to an adjust-able link rod 65.In other words, any suitable system may be utilized for operating theadjustable link rod 55 without departing from my invention.

The valve rod 55 is pivotally connected to a double-armed rocker 55,which is adjustably mounted on a transversely extending camshaft '61,passing into camboxes I and Ia mounted on low pressure cylinder 4 onboth sides of rocker '65. Each end of the camshaft E7 oscillates inflanged supporting bearings I 2| bolted to the outer faces of camboxesI20 and I20a. The rocker carries two circular faces I22 concentric withshaft 61, and are adjustably bolted to flanges I23 and I'23a of sleevesI24 and I24a disposed about the camshaft B1, and which extend int-ocamboxes I28 and I25a through packing glands I25.

To the end of sleeve I24a, within cambox IZIla, is bolted cam hub 68concentric with and ad- 'justable on camshaft 67, and has disposedthereon a removable cam member '69 with a key portion I0, which engagesa slotted portion II in the side of the cam hub 68, and which is securedby screw bolt I2. A cam roller I3, mounted on the lower end of rockerarm I4 pivoted on shaft 15a, engages the cam member 59, while the upperend I5 of rocker arm I4 engages, by means of tappet screw "secured bynuts IIa, the valve 4 stem I8 of poppet-valve 41 to reciprocate and openand close this valve mounted in the flanged cage I9.

To the end of sleeve I24, within the cambox I25 (Fig. 4), is bolted asimilar cam hub 81 concentric with and adjustable on camshaft GI, andhas secured thereon by screw bolts a cam member 82 having a key portion84 in the side of cam hub BI. The rocker 85 is pivoted on shaft I5 andcarries a cam roller 87 at its lower end, engaging the cam member 32.The upper end 88 of the rocker arm '36 engages, by means of tappet screw88a and secured by nut 88b, valve stem 89 of the large exhaustpoppet-valve 48, and reciprocates and opens and closes it in the flangedcage 9I in which it is supported.

It should be noted here that the cam member 69, in cambox IZIla, has itshump on the upper end, whereas cam member 82 in cambox I2l has its humpon the lower end. Thus, with reciprocation of valve rod 65 upwardly, cammember '82 in cambox I20 will engage roller 8'! of rocker 85, on whoseupper end tappet screw 88a will engage valve stem 89, opening valve 48.With reciprocation of valve rod "55 downwardly, valve 48 will be closed,and the hump on cam member 69 will engage roller I3 in cambox I2ila onrocker I4, and tapp t screw II will engage valve stem I8, opening valve41.

The timing and amount of these openings is dependent upon the detaileddesign of the cam members 69 and 82, the lever ratios of the rocker armsI4 and 85, and the adjustment by means of the flanges on sleeves I24 andI24a with respect to the faces I22 on rocker 56.

In cambox IZBa is movably mounted on shaft 15a 2. second rocker arm 94(Figs. 10 and 11) which carries an inwardly extending abutting member93, which is engaged by a complementary abutting member 92 on rocker armI4. The upper end of rocker arm 94 engages, by means of tappet screw 95securedby nut 95, a valve stem 96 of poppet valve 52 mounted in flangedcage 52a.

Thus, whenever cam roller I3 is lifted by the hump on cam member 69,both poppet valves 41 and 52 will be opened, the former serving to ad:mit steam under the high-pressure piston I3 on the upstroke and thelatter to exhaust steam from the low-pressure cylinder 5 above thelowpressure piston I5, which will also be on its upstroke. The lift onexhaust valve 52 will be less than that on admission valve 41, due tothe short lever arm on rocker 94 as comparedwith the long lever arm onrocker I4.

This construction is used so that exhaust valve 52 may be manuallylifted independent of admission valve 41 for the purpose of venting thelowpressure cylinder 5 continuously to the condenser for easy starting.slidabl-e rod 99 mounted in sleeve I38, which is screwed at its lowerend into cap plate I3I bolted to the underside of cambox I'Zfia. To thebottom of cap plate I3I is bolted a small cylinder I33, in which isslidably contained a close-fitting piston I32. All of the cylinders I33are connected by a steam line I34 screwed into the bottom of eachcylinder I33, and which leads to a hand-operated This is accomplished bya,

the top of cylinder I33, which .in turn engages rocker arm 94 and liftsvalve 52, thereby venting all the low-pressure cylinders to thecondenser. This, as will be seen, is accomplished without disturbing theoperation of the admission valve 41 which is always operated by the cammember 69. Immediately after the engine starts, the operator shuts offthe steam pressure under the pistons I32, and the steam under thesepistons will leak out and the piston will drop, disengaging slide rod 99from rocker arm 93 and valve 52. The rocker arm S and valve 52 thenreturn to their normal function of exhausting the low-pressure cylinder4 on the upstroke of piston I5 only, and by means of cam member 69 asdescribed above.

By proper disposition of the cam hubs and cam members 63, 69, 8! and 82,by means of coupling flanges I23 and I23a, and by proper proportioningof rockers with the movement of the eccentric valve gear, proper steamevents in the high and low-pressure cylinders 5 and 4 may be obtained.Furthermore, any system of eccentrics Or any other type of conventionalreciprocating valve gear may be adapted for use with my novel valvemechanism, although I have only shown the adaption to the use of theconventional Stephenson eccentrics and links of a conventionaltripleexpansion steam engine with my novel valve mechanism. All valvesand the mechanisms therefor are independently. adjustable, thereforeproviding for maximum emciency.

In operation, high-pressure steam passes through steam lines to thesteam chamber in cylinder head I G and from thence through thepoppet-valve d! to the high-pressure cylinder 5. This high-pressuresteam acts upwardly on the underside of piston I3 in the high-pressurecylinder 5, and the steam is cutoff at any suitable predetermined pcintby proper adjustment of the cam hub 68 and cam member 39 controlling thepoppet-valve 31. When the piston I3 passes above exhaust ports (notshown) in the side wall of the upper end of the high pressure cylinder5, steam passes outwardly between the inner sleeve 35 and the outer wall31 and equalizes the pressure in the high-pressure cylinder with thepressure on top of the high-pressure piston I3 and in the annular spacebetween sleeve 35 and outer wall 37 and through steam line 43 andpassage 34 and with the steam on top of low-pressure piston I5.Immediately after starting the downward stroke, the exhaust ports in theupper end of the high pressure cylinder 5 are again closed by piston I3,but by this time the exhaust poppetvalve 48 is open, thereby continuingthe exhaust from the high-pressure cylinder 5 through this valve intothe low-pressure cylinder 4. This cylinder is permanently open throughpassages M, steam line 43, and the annular space between liner 35 andouter wall 3'! to the top of the highpressure piston I3. Bothhigh-pressure piston I3 and low-pressure piston I5 then continue thedownward stroke, and when they have reached a predetermined portion oftheir stroke, the exhaust poppet-valve 4.3 is closed. The piston I5 inthe low-pressure cylinder 4, as it approaches the bottom of the stroke,opens exhaust ports (not shown) in the side wall of the low pressurecylinder 5 intermediate the ends thereof and exhausts all of the steam,both in low-pressure cylinder 4 and on top of high-pressure piston I3 inhigh-pressure cylinder 5, to an exhaust line. Thus it is apparent thatthe top of piston I3 in high-pressure cylinder 5 serves to give anaddiengaging slide rod 95 6 tional low-pressure displacementcomplementing that of the main low-pressure piston I5. The low-pressurepiston I5, after reaching the bottom of its stroke, begins its upwardstroke, and at a predetermined point in this upward movement, thelow-pressure exhaust valve 52 is opened, continuing the exhaust to thecondenser through exhaust lines 55 and 56. It will be evident uponinspection that proper movements and control of the poppet-valves 41, 48and 52 may be obtained by proper design of the cam members 69 and 82 andproper positioning relative to the rocker arm 56. The cam members 59 and82 are removable and can be altered by filing, when necessary, forperfect adjustment of all the poppet-valves 41, 48 and 52. After thedesired indicator cards are obtained, the cam members I59 and 82 arehardened and permanently returned to their final positions on cam hubs68 and 8|.

The steam events in my novel steam cylinders are properly taken care ofby the novel valve and cam arrangements which I have provided, and whichmay be adapted for use with any conventional bedplate and columns now inuse with conventional eccentrics or any other type of conventionalreciprocating valve gear. My novel cylinder head and valve gearmechanism give accurate steam control throughout the entire range ofahead and astern cutoif adjustments, provides ample port areas,automatic pressure release, and. it permits the efiicient use in a steamengine of high-pressure and high-temperature steam used in modern steampractice.

Various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention,without departing from the spirit thereof, or from the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A valve operating mechanism for a multiple cylinder steam enginehaving an admission valve for the admission of high pressure steam tothe high pressure cylinder, an exhaust valve for exhausting steam fromthe high pressure cylinder to the low pressure cylinder, and anauxiliary valve for exhausting steam from the low pressure cylindercomprising pivoted rockers having one end thereof connected to saidadmission and exhaust valves for actuating same, an auxiliary pivotedrocker adjacent said rocker connected to said admission valve having oneend thereof connected to said auxiliary valve for actuating same,laterally extending, complementary abutting members on said rockeractuating said admission valve and said rocker actuating said auxiliaryvalve whereby said abutting members engage each other and actuate saidauxiliary valve rocker upon a predetermined rotational movement of saidadmission valve rocker, a cam shaft, cam members on said cam shaft, camrollers carried by said rockers connected to said admission valve andsaid exhaust valve engaging the cam members on said cam shaft, andmotion transferring members for oscillatin said cam shaft.

2. A valve operating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cammembers are independently adjustable and removable.

3. A valve operating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein means areconnected to said auxiliary valve for selectively actuating saidauxiliary valve independent of said abutting means heretofore mentionedcomprising a rod connected to said auxiliary rocker, a piston foractuating said rod, a cylinder in which said piston reciprocates. asource of steam for said cylinder, and means for The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,044,392 Jung Nov. 12, 19121,284,311 Gilliard Nov. 12, 1918 Number Number Name Date VanderhorstJan. 1, 1929 Nordberg June 23, 1931 Mueller Sept. 28, 1937 Wiegand -1Apr. 5, 1938 Skinner Nov. 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date GreatBritain Sept. 14, 1898 France 1 1 Oct. 6, 1930

